asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy why Northern Ireland prices are less, apart from tax reasons, than prices in the Republic for the identical product from the same supplier and the same factory; and if he will publish this information.
Written Answers . - Price Differences .
146.
: There can be a number of reasons, apart from tax, why the price of a product in Northern Ireland may be less than that for a product in this country. The difference in price may be due to such factors as the lower cost of distribution in Northern Ireland, differing green £ rates affecting the cost of agricultural produce, higher costs of production here, the operation of the special employment scheme in Northern Ireland, or the use there of price lists which are in operation in the UK and which do not take account of the transport costs from the UK and the smaller volume of sales in Northern Ireland.
In certain instances, where there was no obvious reason for the discrepancy between prices here and in Northern Ireland, the National Prices Commision carried out studies in an effort to determine the cause of the discrepancy. Summaries of these studies, which refer to distribution costs in Northern Ireland and the Republic, the prices of wheat and flour, grocery prices and motor vehicle prices, were published respectively in the November 1977, December 1977 January 1978, and April 1978 Reports of the National Prices Commission.
If the Deputy furnishes me with particulars of any product he had in mind when framing his question, I will arrange to have the matter of the prices here and in Northern Ireland for that product investigated.